Raising Mary Jane
ACTION ADVENTURE CRIME DRAMA
1960s & '70s
Christian Van Allen

TaleFlick Top Pick!
Logline
In 1969 Wesley moves to iconic Big Sur with a car, and $300. He is soon immersed in an epic adventure that include wild fires, wild parties, marijuana cultivation, and being chased by sheriff's deputies. We follow Wesley as he becomes the largest grower of high grade sinsemilla on the coast.
Genre
Action,Adventure,Crime,Drama
Short Summary
Wesley stumbles upon Big Sur in 1969. He finds a job, settles in to the Big Sur life, and then finds a cabin in the mountains to live in. He begins cultivating marijuana as a side line for extra cash, and soon takes on a partner. The sheriff gets involved and in a wildfire, the cabin is lost.
Wesley takes on a new partner in a new location, increasing the grow to two thousand plants. The trail head to the gardens is a owned by a Madame from Nevada who has frequent parties hosting her prostitutes. Wesley, pursued by the sheriff, suffers a setback, is resurrected, and (maybe) retires.
Setting
Big Sur, CA
Based on a True Story
Yes
Plot - Premise
Rags to Riches,Internal Journey/Rebirth
Plot - Other Elements
Coming of Age,Happy Ending,Twist
Mature Audience Themes
Nudity,Substance Abuse, Language/Profanity
Main Character Details
Name: Wesley Daggert
Age: 19-30
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Adventurous,Aspiring,Badass,Aggressive,Charming,Masculine,Leader,Secretive,Skillful,Confident
Additional Character Details
Name: Deputy Pickett
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Badass,Aggressive,Confident,Decisive,Leader,Masculine,Secretive,Unapologetic
Additional Character Details
Name: Kade Rudman
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Role: sidekick
Key Traits: Adventurous,Aspiring,Blunt,Skillful,Secretive,Confident,Lone Wolf,Leader
Additional Character Details
Name: John Stalkinger
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Role: sidekick
Key Traits: Adventurous,Aspiring,Badass,Aggressive,Crazy,Decisive,Heroic,Lone Wolf,Unapologetic,Secretive,Skillful,Blunt,Masculine
Development Pitch
Raising Mary Jane is set along, arguably, the most beautiful coastline on the planet. With it's dramatic sweeping vistas of ocean breaking on granite cliffs, the viewer is immediate captivated. The story takes place in the 1970s, an age of abandon and hallucinogenic drug use, and follows a young man whose main purpose is to make more money and get higher on the mountain. He finds that money does indeed grow on trees, in the form of marijuana, and proceeds to grow as much as he can. Big Sur is a small community with a certain wildness, and we follow Wesley through wild parties, his meeting a cast of characters, his surviving wild fires that rage through the mountains burning his own cabin, and a very dedicated sheriff's deputy who feels he has Wesley's number. We meet a Madame and her loyal prostitutes who live at the trail head to Wesley's gardens, and we spend hot days under the cover of sagebrush working the crop. There are night scenes, rain storms, and drama, and always the backdrop of Big Sur's incredible beauty. The story is a good precursor to the legalization of marijuana.
Genre
SUSPENSE, COMEDY, ROMANCE, DRAMA, MATURE AUDIENCE
Brief
In the late '70's a young man moves to California's famed Big Sur coast to seek his fortune. That fortune happened to be in the burgeoning marijuana business. This is the story of his efforts to grow premium marijuana during the "cowboy" years of the late '70's and early eighties while always trying to keep one step ahead of the local sheriff.
Overall Rating
EXCELLENT
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: EXCELLENT
Characterization: EXCELLENT
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: EXCELLENT
Premise: EXCELLENT
Structure: EXCELLENT
Theme: EXCELLENT
Accuracy of Book Profile
The book profile does depict the book.
Draw of Story
Learning how one sleepy part of rural California became the international hot spot of high quality weed is interesting.
Possible Drawbacks
No. It was well written.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
Can a young ambitious man move west and find his fortune in the ever growing marijuana business?
Fanbase Potential
Perhaps. While there is a fanbase for "stoner" films this isn't exactly one of those but the subject matter is in the headlines a lot so it might have a decent sized fanbase.
Awards Potential
If it's made into a good film then the actors could be potential nominees.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
BOTTLESHOCK, SIDEWAYS, CANADIAN STRAIN
What’s New About the Story
This offers a glimpse into a world that many know of but few understand. As a novel, it works well - as a film it could use some additional dialogue.
Lead Characters
They are believable.
Uniqueness of Story
It's rare and it's good.
Possible Formats
Film - Indie, Film - Streaming, Film - Studio, TV Series - Limited Run / Mini-Series
Analyst Recommendation
RECOMMEND
Justification
This is a well written and authentic story. It has drama, comedy, romance and characters to root for. It has the elements of an entertaining film.